by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Epidemiology and Biostatistics covers A Program With A General Synthesis Of Epidemiology And Biostatistics Or A Specialization Which Draws From Epidemiology And Biostatistics. Includes Instruction In Biostatistics, Disease And Injury Determinants, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Pathology, Spatial Analysis, And Statistics. Continue reading for the important information every epidemiology and biostatistics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering epidemiology and biostatistics programs.
Nationwide, epidemiology and biostatistics is a popular field of study, with 151 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Epidemiology and Biostatistics Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for epidemiology and biostatistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of epidemiology and biostatistics programs later in this article.
Studies in Epidemiology and Biostatistics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations epidemiology and biostatistics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a epidemiology and biostatistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a epidemiology and biostatistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several epidemiology and biostatistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 132 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to epidemiology and biostatistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 34.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in epidemiology and biostatistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying epidemiology and biostatistics prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to epidemiology and biostatistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to epidemiology and biostatistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of epidemiology and biostatistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for epidemiology and biostatistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers epidemiology and biostatistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
With 13 different epidemiology and biostatistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased epidemiology and biostatistics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in epidemiology and biostatistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,053 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,375 |
| Ecology | 1,201 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
